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Welcome to the General Discussion Room for the AB Forum Recital 11!!![/b]

Please utilize this room for any discussion of the pieces in Recital 11 that is taking place in the main Recital 11 Thread.

Discussions and replies can be posted at-will. Feel free to comment on any or all individual pieces. Some members offer comments on each submission individually; others offer general congratulations. Either approach is fine.

01 Mark . . . Prelude in D minor - Clementi[/b]Mark, I very much enjoyed your piece. It is a very interesting little piece, and although I'm not familliar with it, it seems to me that you played it quite skillfully. Nice job.

02 Mateusz 'Mati' Papiernik Sonata No. 14 'Moonlight' in C# minor, Op. 27 No. 2: Adagio Sostenuto - Beethoven[/b]Mati, your excellent dynamics make up for any small slips that may exist in the piece. I must confess that although I have played this piece (many years ago, though), I did not hear the three "bad slips" that you describe. Another wonderful piece. Great job!

03 Monica K Nuvole Bianche - Einaudi[/b]Well, I prefer to think of it as White Clouds. The other translations strike me as a bit bizarre. Your usual excellent job coupled with your rich sounding piano makes an entertaining listen. Great job particularly in your dynamics. I can hear everything from p to ff in there. Perhaps that quicker learning curve is a product of your growing skillset . . . just a thought.

04 Lisztener Whistling Away the Dark - Mercer/Mancini[/b]I've always been a Mancini fan. Of course, Johnny Mercer is no slouch either. This is an excellent quality recording of your wonderful piano. I enjoyed your improvisation a great deal. I am simply blown away by your interpretation of the piece. It is so dramatic and emotional. Great job!

05 Liszt Addict Prelude Op 28 No 13 - Chopin[/b]Liszt Addict, your skill at the keyboard impresses as always. This is such a beautiful piece, and your playing really brings out the drama in it. Your piano sounds wonderful, too. I was enthralled by this piece. Great job!

Regretfully, that's it for tonight. I have an early start in the morning. We have a major remodel going at work, and things are a bit of a mess right now. The result has been long hours and no days off for the past couple of weeks. I'll sure be glad when it's all done.

Great job by everyone so far. There's not a "clunker" in the bunch. I look forward to listening to a few more pieces tomorrow evening.

Thanks to my ability to cheat and listen to the submissions early, I was able to prepare my comments for the first 10 ahead of time. I hope to get comments for everybody else shortly, but I do want to say that I listened to portions of all the recordings, and EVERYBODY did a fantastic job this recital. Congratulations, all!

01 – Mark:[/b] What a pretty, sad piece. It’s not often I listen to a classical piece and think to myself, “I really want to learn that,” but you’ve done it here.

02 – Mati:[/b] This is always a tough piece to record given the inevitable high standards that exist out there. You have done a wonderful job with this. And the “True Pianos” sound was fantastic, even on my computer speakers.

04 – Lisztener:[/b] This is beautiful in a sweet, sad way. I’m very impressed that you came up with this improvisation yourself.

05 – LisztAddict:[/b] I have come to expect great technical feats from you, and this recital is no exception. Very impressive!

06 – LauraD:[/b] Could your fingers have possibly moved any faster?!? I just love tarantellas. I used to play one on the accordion many years ago and always had a blast doing so. It sounds like you were having just as much fun with yours.

07 – mr_super-hunky:[/b] I have loved all of your improvisations, hunky, so I was eager to hear this first full-blown composing effort. I think this is an outstanding effort.

10 – True Beginner:[/b] Okay, so now you have me wanting to haul out my Senneville sheet music collection and learn this one. Or, I should say, I was tempted by your recording until I got to the part with all the wicked octaves that sounded VERY VERY hard. Beautiful playing of a beautiful piece.

01. Mark... - Prelude in D minor[/b] (to do)Very mellowing piece. Nicely played. You're right that on a live acoustic grand, this would be a great one to play. Nevertheless, you have it down beautifully.

02. Mateusz 'Mati' Papiernik - Sonata No. 14 'Moonlight' in C# minor, Op. 27 No. 2: Adagio Sostenuto[/b] (to do)A piece that is still on my to do list, I see. If it is as bad as you say, you are good at covering it up. Great effort especially after being away from a piano.

03. Monica K. - Nuvole Bianche[/b] (to do)I like this piece. First time for me hearing it, and the expression displayed is impressive. I like the tempo changes and such. You really take advantage of those devices to make this a wonderfully enjoyable piece to listen to.

04. Lisztener - Whistling Away the Dark[/b] (to do)Nicely improvised. I would have never guessed that this was your first. Do not disappoint by saying it is your last. I enjoyed it very much.

05. LisztAddict - Prelude Op 28 No 13[/b] (to do)Well performed, I must say. I'm starting on my first Chopin piece soon so I guess I know what to eat to really pull it off.

06. Laura D - Tarantella[/b] (to do)Laura, that does sound fun to play. I had fun listening to it. I like these upbeat pieces and you tackled it impressively for such a technically demanding challenge. Great job.

07. Mr Super-hunky - Imaginations[/b] (to do)So when is your CD coming out with the rest of your compositions? This is really good and well performed. Thank you for submitting.

08. Riddler (Ed) - I Remember Clifford[/b] (to do)Nicely played jazzy piece here. You can never argue with the place jazz music has with the piano. Good execution and performance.

09. John Frank - Etude, Op.10, No.3 (Theme)[/b] (to do)John Frank, you are not ashamed to play a simplified piece and I really respect that. You play very well and your progress really shows here. Good job.

10. True Beginner - Les Fleurs Sauvages ( Wild Flowers )[/b] (to do)TB, I still say your username does not fit you. This sounds like it has some technique that took alot of work to get down. Well done. I must confess, though, that I have never heard this one as well, but it is a very nice composition.

More to come

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Psa 33:1-3 ¶ Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright. Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings. Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.

Here I am with barely enough time left to shower & dress before heading off to work and I keep wanting to listen to "just one more" before I go.

I'll be more organized in one way or another later, eventually. There's a lot to listen to here & it will take some time to get through them all.

Congratulations to everyone who participated in the ABF Recital #11, a new record number of contributions.

Thank you Monica for all that you do, and thank you mahlzeit! This is only my 4th recital (i think?), but it's the first time using the new method for submissions...really nice setup you guys. I really like and appreciate how convenient you made it for us to participate.

Signal - had to listen to this one first - one of my favorite pieces of piano music - was considering it myself for a future recital - now largely discouraged by your excellent rendition - masterfuuly played - very sensitive and expressive - great touch and outstanding dynamics - you captured the beautiful essence of this New Age masterpiece - David would be proud!

With much (and somewhat envious) Regards, JF

P.S. As I'm sure you're well aware it's "LeaveS [/b] on the Siene" , and not "Leave on the Siene" - small difference in spelling, big difference in meaning and image (mulicolored leaves floating on the surface of the river on a warm, sunny autumn day vs. a dirty, broken down barge carrying some disheveled Parisian down river to some unforsaken, smog ridden destination).

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Every difficulty slurred over will be a ghost to disturb your repose later on. Frederic Chopin

Rosanna - your's was the 2nd piece I really wanted to hear - listened 5 times - let me say this in all seriousness: I would suffer heaps of "abuse" from you because of my "gentle nudges" encouraging you to record something (anything!) for submission to the Recital for the sheer, unadulterated joy of listening to your wonderful playing on uniquely outstanding pieces such as this!!!

Brilliantly done! You have an excellent touch all over the keyboard, your dynamics are near perfect and your expresiveness is simply awesome!

Thank you very, very much for sharing this fascinating music so well played with us. Why would you ever want to deprive us of this?

With warmest possible (and hugely impressed) Regards, JF

_________________________
Every difficulty slurred over will be a ghost to disturb your repose later on. Frederic Chopin

Hmmm... I want to make sure that I get feedback to all the first time inductees to the Order of the Red Dot, so let me commence with them:

16. Jinbo—[/b] What a nice jaunty piece! It’s not the style I normally associate with Schubert, but I liked it. And I was pleasantly surprised by how well the recording turned out given that you were using your phone.

19. Casyopea—[/b] This is one of my favorite Bach pieces, too, because of its dreamy character. I know it’s hard to play all those arpeggios smoothly, but you make it sound effortless.

26. Gary001—[/b]Wow… your playing is extremely impressive for only 5 months! Your timing was even and you rattled the ornamentation off like a pro. Excellent recital debut.

33. AnthonyB—[/b] Well, it will surprise nobody to hear that this is one of the ones I cheated on and listened to early, and I’ve already given Anthony feedback. Beautiful job on an absolutely beautiful piece.

34. Strat—[/b] I’ve heard so many of your recordings in the piano bar and video game threads that I was surprised to realize that this was your first recital. This is a lovely piece and you play it expertly. I can see why it inspired you to play. I was listening to it and all set to hunt down the sheet music until I hit the 1:27 mark and realized it will be a LONG time before I’m able to play that.

41. Fillanzea—[/b] Another jaunty waltz! Great job on some difficult runs down the keyboard.

42. RobM—[/b] I heard this piece ages ago on one of the video game threads, and it was so enchanting I (of course) got the sheet music and tried to learn it. I gave up almost immediately because that left hand is really tough, so I’m *very* impressed by your smooth performance here.

p.s. I believe you made a typo in your description of what you had for lunch. I occasionally take liberties and fix typos when I find them in the recital thread, but this one was so funny I left it in. Besides, maybe it wasn’t a typo.

43. Tekkie—[/b] I have never heard of this composer before, but I really liked this piece— somewhat sad and with a definite new age flair. This is one I’ll have to add to my sheet music acquisition list. How are the other pieces in that book? Are they all in this style?

66. EJR—[/b] This was a pleasant surprise, as you snuck this in almost at the last minute, so it wasn’t until after I closed the recital and was making the zip files that I saw it was in there. I still love this piece as much as the first time I heard it, and yours is one of the best performances I’ve heard of it. What I found most impressive is that you manage to make the transitions between sections with no noticeable hesitations, and I *know* just how hard that is to do because there are some big jumps around the keyboard that I have never managed to do smoothly.

69. karaeloko—[/b]Talk about cutting it close to deadlines! I’ve been intrigued by this piece ever since it was the focal point of Noah Adams’ “Piano Lessons” book. You do a lovely job with it, and it was a wonderful way to close the recital.

03. Monica K. - Nuvole Bianche[/b] Since I don't know the piece I can only comment on two things: 1) there are other composers besides Einaudi :p and, 2) nicely done! The ritardando at 3:17 provides a nice contrast, the tempo and dynamics worked well.

06. Laura D - Tarantella[/b] Wow! What a sparkling performance. I think my fingers would have been falling off at around the 1 minute mark!

07. Mr Super-hunky - Imaginations[/b] A nice, somber beginning that you modulate well. Good thematic development, interesting harmonies, surprises in pace -- all things that keep a listener interested. The motif that shows up around 2:00 works well, and then taking a variation up an octave provides a nice continuation. Very well done!

08. Riddler (Ed) - I Remember Clifford[/b] Well played -- the improvisations in the left hand work well.

09. John Frank - Etude, Op.10, No.3 (Theme)[/b] You really bring out the melody in this beautiful piece. Although simplified, the arrangers kept most of the elements that make this an interesting piece.

10. True Beginner - Les Fleurs Sauvages ( Wild Flowers )[/b] This is a moody piece that you play well. I can see why you like it so much.

I'll get to the next batch of ten shortly.

Ed

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"...a man ... should engage himself with the causes of the harmonious combination of sounds, and with the composition of music." Anatolius of AlexandriaYouTube Channel

Originally posted by Monica K.:43. Tekkie—[/b] I have never heard of this composer before, but I really liked this piece— somewhat sad and with a definite new age flair. This is one I’ll have to add to my sheet music acquisition list. How are the other pieces in that book? Are they all in this style?[/b]

Thanks for the nice comment. This composer definitely has a melancholy sound, but there is a nice variety among the pieces in the book. He reminds me of other composers like Einaudi and Lanz. He was "artist of the week" on our local classical radio station recently - that's where I heard him first.

01. Mark... - Prelude in D minor[/b] Very nice! If I could play this as smoothly as you do, I'm sure it would not frustrate me as much as it does.

02. Mateusz 'Mati' Papiernik - Sonata No. 14 'Moonlight' in C# minor, Op. 27 No. 2: Adagio Sostenuto[/b] Yes, this is one of those pieces that some think are "overplayed," but I find it beautiful every time I hear it. Lovely.

03. Monica K. - Nuvole Bianche[/b] You're grasp of New Age music is amazing. You certainly have the feel down. I always enjoy your playing.

04. Lisztener - Whistling Away the Dark[/b] First attempt at improvising? Wow. That was very nice. Lovely melancholy touch to the sound that fits the lyrics perfectly.

05. LisztAddict - Prelude Op 28 No 13[/b] Very nice playing on a very pretty piece.

06. Laura D - Tarantella[/b] That certainly did sound like it was fun to play. Nice job!

07. Mr Super-hunky - Imaginations[/b] Well, if this is the stuff that is in your brain, you really must let it out more often! I can hear the influences you mentioned, and could easily see this in a movie soundtrack.

08. Riddler (Ed) - I Remember Clifford[/b] Haunting is right. What a pretty melody, and played with just the right feel and emotion.

09. John Frank - Etude, Op.10, No.3 (Theme)[/b] A very well known melody, for sure. And a very nice arrangement as well. Very nice job!

11. laValse - Prelude Op 40 #3[/b] Even thought I've heard it before, nicely played. However, this submitting previously submitted material is equivalent to luffing -- to be avoided if at all possible!

12. Peyton - A House at the End of the World[/b] Very melancholy. Nicely played and a good voice for that type of song.

This is the perfect end to my vacation. I'm spending the whole day listening to the entire recital whilst enjoying a glass (or two) of my favourite wine. With 69 pieces (wow!) I may have to open a second bottle!

02. Mateusz 'Mati' Papiernik - Sonata No. 14 'Moonlight' in C# minor, Op. 27 No. 2: Adagio Sostenuto[/b] Very nice! It was one of my summer projects to ressurect this piece. Mine isn't nearly as clean yet. Great job! My only suggestion would be to watch the tempo, sometimes it speeds up with the crescendo and you might want to have your metronome ticking quietly in the back ground to check the speed from time to time. I really enjoyed it though. You play at a nice overall speed. Sometimes it's played way to slow or too fast.

03. Monica K. - Nuvole Bianche[/b] Monica your pieces are aways so lovely to listen too. You must have a great repertoire to share with your friends and family.

04. Lisztener - Whistling Away the Dark[/b] Truely wonderful! Your improvising is really good. I still have yet to be happy with any attempts. Did you write out your harmonies?

05. LisztAddict - Prelude Op 28 No 13[/b] Awesome. This is not a Prelude I've heard before. Very nice.

06. Laura D - Tarantella[/b] Wow! flying fingers for sure! It does sound like fun!(and hard) I bet it was a great learning piece too!

07. Mr Super-hunky - Imaginations[/b] How much you love to do this really shows in your playing. I can easily 'imagine' it in a movie!!

08. Riddler (Ed) - I Remember Clifford[/b] Very pretty piece, a little mellow but in a nice way.

09. John Frank - Etude, Op.10, No.3 (Theme)[/b] This is my absolute favourite Chopin piece and I enjoyed listening to your recording. I've done the theme but am not ready to tackle the rest...I carry the sheet music around with me for 'some day.'

14. b528nf7 - Bill Moore - Piano Bar Theme[/b] Another player/singer!! You guys are too much! This was great! (I wasn't as fussy about the organ section though-may have been my crappy headphones.) Thanks - I was tapping my feet. YOu must be great fun at a party!

17. dannylux/Mel - Kalinnikov Moderato in e flat minor[/b] This is a beautiful piece and I can hear how it would be great 5th finger exercise - great dynamics. Wow I loved it and your comment about space being the very soul of the music. Thank you

18. bluekeys - Mariage D'amour[/b] I love the super romantic crap too! You played this wonderfully with great control I particularly liked the cascading run at the end. Really enjoyed it!

19. Casyopea - Prelude in C Major BWV 846 (from Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I)[/b] I don't think I've ever heard this played better! Great job. You kept it soft and even and gently brought out the melody.

20. rustyfingers - Root Beer Rag[/b] Speedy fingers or what! Wow. Would have loved to see a video of this! Fun!

21. Euan Morrison - Piano Ballet[/b] Beautiful. You sound like you have been playing much longer than 3 years. Awesome!

22. DragonPianoPlayer - The Mechanical Doll[/b] It was easy to picture a mechanical doll in this piece. You kept it very even. Well played!

23. Euphonatrix - Sonatina in F, WoO, Anh. 5, No. 2[/b] Another great piece. I haven't played very much Beethoven but this is one I'd like to try. I liked your dynamics. Sonatinas are always so interesting with so much variety.

24. AdagioM (Michele) - Adagio from Sonata No. 48, Hob. XVI/35[/b] Beautiful. You made it sound easy and I'm sure it isn't. I might not have noticed if you hadn't mentioned it but I could hear the 'strain' with the high notes. Still sounded great to me though.

25. mlr1899 - Sensation[/b] Contratulations on playing for church! That takes courage (more than I have for sure) This was a great piece - very light and lively and I could picture bouncy hands all over the keyboard.

26. Gary001 - Theme in F Major[/b] Wow - 5 months. This was really good. Lots of control - you play with confidence.

27. rocky - Evacuee[/b] This didn't sound 'simple' it sounded very serene - well controlled with a lot of emotion. I thought THIS take was 'brilliant'!!

28. Serge88 - The Long And Winding Road[/b] Very nice. I did watch your video and loved how you faded IN to the picture. The transitions were great and I loved seeing your dog too!!

29. angelojf - "Here Comes the Sun"[/b] Really nice I so admire those able to combine 'ear'. If it's not on the page I can't play it (and often can't even then!) Great job!!

30. kawaigirl1 - Leo[/b] I always look forward to Einaudi each recital but have never tried to learn any. This was another beautiful piece. I loved it!!

32. Undone (Jim) - Night Song[/b] Sweet melody. You played it very expressively. Great dynamics

33. AnthonyB - I due fiumi[/b] Another Einaudi piece. This was lovely too. I thought you had the the timing well. You certainly sound like you've been playing longer than a year. Great job!

34. Strat - Wind Crest (from Final Fantasy X-2) [/b]Glad that you decided to start!! This is nice. I'm trying not to be discouraged at all the amazing pieces I'm listening to by those playing for such a short time! 35. jotur - Cathy Turner - (This is Not Your Mother's) Black and White Rag[/b] A real toe tapper. Such fun to listen to. You make it sound easy. The bass is perfect!

36. Eighty8 - Letter From Home[/b] So you picked this up from YouTube? Does that mean it's by ear? I loved this piece. It ran a few times on my player before I moved on to the next one.

37. epf - Music of the Night[/b] So soft and gentle. You play with a lot of emotion. Very sweet. You really make use of the 'space' between the notes - which is what it's all about!

38. Copper - Stardust[/b] This was very light and airy. Made me feel relaxed.. You must feel very relaxed when playing - at least that what came through for me.

39. Pevawi / Peter - Für Elise[/b] People say this is over played but I don't think so. I used to know the first part and my husband keeps wanting me to go back to it..... You may have inspired me! Good job!

40. gerg aka Greg - Nocturne Op. 37 No. 2[/b] Beautiful. I can't wait till I can handle a Chopin Nocturne. Maybe next year. This was very nice - thanks so much for sharing!

42. RobM - Suteki Da Ne[/b] I love the triplets in this - you have a nice touch and kept the melody so clear. It sounds polished to me!

43. tekkie - Opus #18[/b] Very nice. This had a wonderful rich sound and your dynamics were lovely.

44. PianoN00b (Yang) - Midnight Rhapsody[/b] Another beautiful piece by someone only playing for a year! This was great! I couldn't get the vieo to play though...

45. joangolfing - Hymn to Joy[/b] I hadn't heard this arrangement of Ode to Joy. It was interesting. I think I prefer the original but you did a great job on this version!

46. Paul Cast - Sonatina Op.36 No.1 Allegro, Andente, Vivace[/b] I did this one! It's not easy to keep even. You did a really good job. Great control. Andante was my favourite part! The last part does have a little unevenness in parts. I remember my teacher clapping as I played this section to help keep me even. Maybe practicing with your metronome would help in some sections.

47. mahlzeit - Diminished[/b] Nice composition! I bet you drew a crowd. This was lovely.

48. Seaside_Lee - How Deep Is Your Love[/b] I used to love he Bee Gees.... I'm still amazed that you folks can play by ear. Awesome!

49. TX-Dennis (Dennis Turner) - In The Still of the Night[/b] I loved it! another improv! You should be very happy with this recording.

50. Piano*Dad - La Fille aux Cheveux de Lin[/b]Very professional sounding to me. I would never know I was listening to an amateur. I know we are always more critical of our own playing and I guess having a son who is so advanced makes you even more critical. I think I'm glad I'm the only one in my house who plays!!

51. GregF - Pastorale Op.100, No. 3[/b] I have the whole Opus 100 so I was able to read along! You did a great job!

52. Mistaya (Caroline) - Notturno op.54 no.4[/b]I haven't heard this before. I have a whole book of Greig pieces but they start at opus 57. I really enjoyed this piece and wonder how hard this was to learn. Did it take months??

54. DeepElem (aka Buck) - Cinema Paradiso[/b] Short is ok. Keep them wanting more I say! Which I certainly did with this piece. You played it wonderfully with lots of emotion. My player keep repeating so it was nice and long for me!!

55. Greywullf - No. 3 Canzone Amorosa[/b] I really enjoyed this piece. It sounded very professional. I could imagine this plalying at a piano bar.

56. Jeff (Opus45) - Barcarolle (June, from the Seasons)[/b] It doesn't sound as though it's above your technical abilities. Was this a 'better' recording? Any flaws were not noticable to me! Beautiful piece.

57. polostrings - Waiting for Arrival[/b] I got shivers reading your additional info. What anticipation and joy! I've got a one year old granddaughter who is the joy of our lives and it immediately made me think of her and our anticipation. Children are such a blessing. My very wise stepdad once said. "Enjoy them, you really only have a lend of them"..... Annywayyy back to your piece. I loved it and I'll bet your brother and sister do as well.

58. Kawai, Hi - Raindrop Prelude[/b] I know what you mean about embarassing. My teacher gave me a bunch of simplified Chopin pieces to play with during the summer. I first thought. Harumph...simplified???? then I tried them.. oh dear... still hard... Yours sounded lovely! It's only someone who is very familiar with Chopin's works who would think it's simplified.

59. Mike White - Scherzino Mexicano[/b] Very nice. Had it repeating while I was on the phone and was asked what recording it was!

60. Rosanna - Shanghai Tan[/b] Wow! So... classically trained.. did it help with PianoMagic? I'm guessing it did. I'm still amazed when I listen to something so wonderful that has been played by ear. So it's not even written down right? Totally baffled at how anyone can do this. It's just amazing to me!! Loved it!

61. ddh - Daniel - Londonderry Air[/b] So soft and sweet. Any liberties you took were well placed. I love this song and your playing of it!

62. YD (Yuri) - Mozart, Sonata K545, Andante[/b] I saw K545 and thought oh no... but then I saw Andante! Yes!! If my teacher ever suggests K545 I'll insist on this movement I really don't like the first. You played it very well!!

63. Manndrew - Crazy[/b] This was wonderful. I know what you mean. It's so hard to not let the music carry you away. I think that's mostly a good thing. Your recording was great. A real lounge player! Have you ever done that? YOu could with pieces like this. Really, really nice.

65. Hisalone (Joel) - Hungarian Dance No. 5[/b] This was very impressive. You kept the left hand pretty steady which I'm sure wasn't very easy. The dynamics were good too.

66. EJR - Everyday[/b] NIce. I love the steady bass harmony amd rhythm. It has such captivating pulse. and the quiet melody at about 2:58 with the increasing haromny is beautiful. Great job!

67. Ovaltine - Nocturne #2, Op.9 No.2[/b] I love Nocturnes..... haven't even learned one yet. This was beautiful. There's so much music out there. After each recital I want to play everything!!! I loved it! You sound so relaxed and confident.

68. Signal - Leave on the Siene[/b] Soft and sweet. and nearly the end of an amazing 11th recital. I'm glad you were near the end as it leaves me feeling happy and mellow... Thanks!

69. karaeloko - Träumerei[/b] Wonderful job on this familiar piece. I've picked it up from time to time but somehow never finished.... You've inspired me. You played it beautifully with all the emotion it needs, great use of musical 'space' - it sounded very professional. Perfect end to the recital!!

21. Euan Morrison - Piano Ballet[/b] This is a really pretty piece. I don't know it so can't comment on the accuracy of the transcription -- but from what I heard it has to be pretty close. Well played.

22. DragonPianoPlayer - The Mechanical Doll[/b] Nice job. Perhaps a couple of tiny slips, but overall well done -- you brought out the musicality in the piece and avoided making it sound, well, um, mechanical.

23. Euphonatrix - Sonatina in F, WoO, Anh. 5, No. 2[/b] Excellent recording -- the sound quality is great, as is the playing. And, for the record, I don't think Beethoven is always grave -- his music reflects, in part, the pain he suffered but also the humor he saw in life. Excellent job!

24. AdagioM (Michele) - Adagio from Sonata No. 48, Hob. XVI/35[/b] Ah, I love playing Haydn -- always full of surprises and joie de vivre. Well played: nice touch and good control.

25. mlr1899 - Sensation[/b] Ah, a nice ragtime piece. Joplin's influence on Lamb is really obvious in this piece (which, I believe, was his first published piece). The only non-African American of the "Big Three" ragtime composers (the others are Joplin and James Scott) his music reflects a light-heartedness that you really bring out well. Excellent job!

26. Gary001 - Theme in F Major[/b] Very, very nicely played -- good touch and timing. For five months this is excellent (and, actually would be good for someone with much more experience).

27. rocky - Evacuee[/b] It would be interesting to know the story behind this music which you play so well! There is a pensiveness in this piece that you bring out so well. Perhaps you should delete more "brilliant" recordings so you can redo them!

28. Serge88 - The Long And Winding Road[/b] This is really well done -- very nice control of the pace of the piece. Well played.

29. angelojf - "Here Comes the Sun"[/b] Interesting choice of voice for this piece. I found the sound fun to listen to! You played the piece will (what part was your ear playing?).

30. kawaigirl1 - Leo[/b] If I keep listening to you and Monica I may actually find myself playing Einaudi! Well done -- the trills were really clean!

The next group of 10 will be done shortly.

Ed

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"...a man ... should engage himself with the causes of the harmonious combination of sounds, and with the composition of music." Anatolius of AlexandriaYouTube Channel

31. Orez Eno - Two Timing, Op.134 No.6[/b] Your tempo was really good on this. It was well played. You did seem to ignore the dynamics or, perhaps, they got lost in the recording. The score shows variation from piano to fortissimo, but it seemed to all be at the same level. Just something to think about for the future! Other than that, well done!

32. Undone (Jim) - Night Song[/b] Nice variation in dynamics, good control of the tempo. This piece had a good pulse. Well done!

33. AnthonyB - I due fiumi[/b] Nicely played with an excellent touch. You've noted the hand synchronization, but that's really the only issue I noticed. Good job!

34. Strat - Wind Crest (from Final Fantasy X-2)[/b] I don't know this piece so comments on accuracy to the score are not possible. Having said that, it sounds really good. Nice dynamics, good pace and delicate touch. Well done!

35. jotur - Cathy Turner - (This is Not Your Mother's) Black and White Rag[/b] Cathy, I don't think there's anything to be disappointed about. This is a really nice rag! This sounds more like an early 20th century rag that's moved beyond the stride influence of rag (which, in fact, it is). The left hand patterns reflect some Joplinesque tendencies, but I think there's a lot of you in it. Very well done! BTW, you might try to find Winifred Atwell's version of this -- you have a lot in common with her!

11. laValse - Prelude Op 40 #3[/b] Such a simple sounding piece when you play it so well. There is a lot going on there and you handled it beautifully.

12. Peyton - A House at the End of the World[/b] I'm always impressed at how you can sing and play at the same time. I get hopelessly confused when I have do something as seemingly simple as count and play! You have gift for songwriting. A lovely song.

13. Ted Stanion - La fille aux cheveux de lin[/b] I don't think it lacked in either technical merit or musicality. It's always a pleasure to hear Debussy played with such emotion.

15. Schubertian - J S Bach - Prelude & Fugue #15 in G Major; WTC II[/b] I have attempted 2 Bach pieces so far, and butchered them unmercifully! You played this as if it were easy, which I know it is not. You kept the tempo and flow very well. Beautifully performed.

16. Jinbo - Moment Musicaux No. 3 in F Minor[/b] Very nice. Sounds like it was fun to play.

17. dannylux/Mel - Kalinnikov Moderato in e flat minor[/b] "Moody and lovely" certainly are apt words to describe this piece. Very nice job bringing out that melody. The dynamics were very nice also, and flowed nicely with the music.

18. bluekeys - Mariage D'amour[/b] I guess I "dig this super romantic crap," too, because I thought it was lovely and very well played!

19. Casyopea - Prelude in C Major BWV 846 (from Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I)[/b] Nice job. Bach is so difficult to play, but you make it sound easy.

#66. Oh yea... I can't hear this without seeing that fantastic portrait montage on you tube. I love it and you did a great job.

#65. Nice and lively!! really good playing.

#64. I never did like this piece played in a minute You found just the right speed.

#63 Smoooooth. I needed my cigar and a scotch for that one. Fantastic playing. I listened twice.

#62 Well... considering what you had to go through to get this recorded I would say you got a real nice result. Really , really good playing.

#61. That's funny, I was just talking to my dad, a professional singer and he mentioned Danny Boy. He said that when ever he would go home to Alabama to see his parents his father would ask him to sing Danny Boy and would cry.

06 Laura D Tarantella - Pieczonka [/b]Wow, the piece is a hoot to listen to. Fun to play . . . not for me, I think. My fingers refuse to move that fast in anything close to an orderly fashion. Superb performance. I thought when I heard the opening strains that the piano sounded like an older version of Monica's. I'm usually terrible at guessing pianos, so I was really surprised when I checked and found that it really was a M & H.

07 Mr Super-hunky Imaginations - M. Super-Hunky[/b]What can I say, this is excellent. You continue to be full of surprises. The composition sounds very professional, and I really enjoyed listening. Your dynamics are wonderful, and the great thing about composing your own music is that no one but you knows when (if) you hit a wrong note.

08 Riddler I Remember Clifford - Golson[/b]This piece is a jazz classic. There are probably a million recordings of this piece out there. I really enjoyed your version. You really know how to fill out a lead sheet, and I know from experience that isn't easy.

09 John Frank Etude, Op.10, No.3 (Theme) - Chopin[/b]You are certainly correct about Jo Stafford's recording of the piece. I'm sure I've heard a number of other pop and jazz singers do the piece as well over the years. Anyway, very nice job on this, John Frank. I enjoyed listening.

10 True Beginner Les Fleurs Sauvages - De Senneville/Toussaint[/b]I have never played this piece, but I have heard it many times. It is such a haunting melody, Yoiu captured the essence and emotion of the piece very nicely. You also play well beyond your level of experience. Very nice, thank you.

11 laValse Prelude Op 40 #3 - Liadov[/b]This piece is sad and haunting as one expects of Russian music. Of course, there are upbeat Russian pieces, but this is what I think of when I think of Russian music. The only criticism I have is that it is too short and left me wanting more. I suppose, though, that that could be considered a good thing.

12 Peyton A House at the End of the World - Higgison[/b]What a wonderful into! This is another wonderful composition of yours. Great job, sir. I really enjoyed your ending as well. Superb!

14 b528nf7 Piano Bar Theme - Henson/Pottle [/b]Bill, What a fun piece! Very nice job. I like the Joel tribute at the end as well.

15 Schubertian Prelude & Fugue #15 in G Major; WTC II - Bach[/b]This is a technically challenging piece, and I believe you played it flawlessly. Your piano sounds great as well. Bravo!

16 Jinbo Moment Musicaux No. 3 in F Minor - schubert[/b]That's a nice little Schubert piece. Short and sweet. You played it very nicely. Great job, Jinbo!

17 dannylux/Mel Kalinnikov Moderato in e flat minor - Kalinnikov[/b]Mel, that is indeed a lovely piece. I love that you continue to seek out lesser known composers for our entertainment and education. Excleent playing; great dynamics and precise timing. Bravo!

18 bluekeys Marriage D'amour - Senneville/Toussaint [/b]Who'd have thought the recital would feature two pieces by De Senneville & Toussaint? This is quite a lovely piece, and I believe you played it terrifically. Wonderful job!

20 rustyfingers Root Beer Rag - Joel[/b]Your husband has nothing to be sorry about. You did a great job on a tricky piece. I guess most people do become tired after hearing the same piece hundreds of times within a short period of time, though.

I have enjoyed every piece thus far, and I look forward to hearing the rest (except for the one by that Turner guy - I think I've heard it a thousand times already.)

As in the last recital, I don’t want to comment in numerical order of performances (apologies to the early birds). But I do want to honor the Gold Medal performers, both old and new. You would have no way of knowing, but each one of you inspired me with your recital performances these past few years. Congratulations to all of you!

Monica; [/b] Nuvole Bianche: I know exactly what you mean by the “all-to-rare transcendent piano experiences”. Einaudi may have written these notes but you certainly made them your own in this very thoughtful performance. How nice it must be to have such lovely pieces in your repertoire. I would use this particular one whenever I needed to calm my nerves or lower my blood pressure. It would seem to have that effect.

LitzAddict; [/b] Chopin Prelude Op 28 No 13: Preludes always leave you wanting more don’t they? I thought I had heard all of Chopin’s Preludes but I didn’t recognize this one. What made you choose this one for the recital? I really loved the part at about the minute & half point…sublime.

Mr Super-Hunky; [/b] Imaginations (Original Composition): Very professional sounding! I really like all of the transitions (key changes?) throughout the music…it was dramatic but in a very pleasing and subtle way, not overly done. Interesting that you mentioned this music as an application to a “movie soundtrack” because I was actually thinking that while listening before I read it in your write up. Good job S-H, as always.

Euan Morrison; [/b] Piano Ballet: I for one hope Eluvium won’t mind you performing this in the recital. For one thing, I now have him bookmarked to watch. What a beautiful melody. For some reason, I think this particular melody would be an excellent choice to bring along and play while shopping for a new piano. Great choice for the recital by the way!

Copper; [/b] Stardust: Boy does this bring back memories of my early childhood. My grandmother loved this. She lived to be 100 years old, and she died a long time ago. This would also sound terrific if you recorded it with static background noises to duplicate an old record playing on an old phonograph. You pick some of the most interesting music for these recitals Copper. Your playing is coming along nicely by the way. Keep it up…if you can fly planes you can teach yourself to play the piano. Keep this one on the back burner, with more time on the keyboard I can really see you jazzing this one up even more.

Seaside Lee; [/b] How Deep is Your Love: One word. Style. A couple things occurred to me while listening to this delightful recording. First thing…if I were challenged to listen to the entire recital and guess who played each one, this one (and Mr Super-Hunky’s) would be the only ones I would probably guess correctly. I would not be able to guess who played any of the classical or popular pieces played from scores. Second thing…it occurs to me that the ability to improvise musically would be extremely useful in terms of training yourself to listen more actively to the music and to developing a personal style. I think that is my biggest personal challenge musically. I can read notes on a staff and figure out how to roughly translate them into sounds, but I need to listen more. It’s obvious to me that you are obviously listening a lot to what you’re playing, and in doing so you’re developing your own personal style. I hope you’ll always be around PianoWorld Seaside, I can’t wait to hear how your style develops in the next decade and beyond.

IPIBAHN-Sandy; [/b] Jazz Hymn: Okay I’ll admit it. You made me cry Sandy. A beautiful and sweet song, played lovingly. I went back and reread Cassie’s thread while listening to this on repeat a couple times. I’m going to give my little doggie some extra attention tonight and pray I have him around as long as I possibly can. I can so appreciate your choice of music for this recital Sandy. It just sounds so right, and well done. Peace be with you!

Mike White; [/b] Scherzino Mexicano: I have come to expect phenomenal performances from you Mike, and as usual you didn’t disappoint. Absolutely DELIGHTFUL piano music!! Scherzino? Like the word. Is it, like, a small Scherzo? I am going to have to bookmark this one for future consideration. Like Monica and many others here in the ABF, I’m always looking out for new piano music to add to my impossible stack. You know Mike, I would feel like an accomplished piano player if I could play everything you play. I hope that doesn’t sound too effusive because I mean it quite genuinely.

And for the 3 newest members of the esteemed “Gold Dot” Club or society:

Dannylux (Mel); [/b] Kalinnikov Moderato in e flat minor “This is a great piece for teaching the fingers to sing and to learn to play the spaces between the notes, where the very soul of the music lies.” I love that Mel! I usually find your recital selections to be a showcase for impressive musical athleticism, but this one is different. It sounds like this one is complex in a very different way. If you progress much more you’ll leave me so far behind all I will be able to say for your recital performances is “Wow”.

AdagioM (Michele); [/b] Haydn Adagio from Sonata No. 48, Hob. XVI/35: Very nice! Well controlled, relaxed and comfortable. Yes, you own this Michele…it is pure pleasure for my ears. Thank you so much.

Kawaigirl; [/b] Einaudi Leo: Forgive my irreverence, but I laughed my *** off halfway through this when I noticed that you selected “YES, Critical Feedback Wanted”. As if! If there were a choice of “None necessary” that would be more appropriate. Seriously though, your recital performances have always been inspirational for me and this one is no exception. You are a wonderful ambassador for Einaudi because you make me want to purchase his music. What more can I say?

IPIBAHN-Sandy; Jazz Hymn: Okay I’ll admit it. You made me cry Sandy. A beautiful and sweet song, played lovingly. I went back and reread Cassie’s thread while listening to this on repeat a couple times. I’m going to give my little doggie some extra attention tonight and pray I have him around as long as I possibly can. I can so appreciate your choice of music for this recital Sandy. It just sounds so right, and well done. Peace be with you!

Thank you. This meant a lot to me. Especially today as we picked up Cassie's ashes and I havent' been able to stop crying since....give your pup a hug for me too...

21 Euan Morrison Piano Ballet - Eluvium[/b]I had to reread the composer's name here. At first I thought it said effluvium. This does not sound noxious or malodorous in the least. Wonderful job, Euan, as usual. A most enjoyable performance.

22 DragonPianoPlayer The Mechanical Doll - Shostakovich[/b]Well done. I am not fond of this type of music, but I know the piece is not easy. You played it quite well.

23 Euphonatrix Sonatina in F, WoO, Anh. 5, No. 2 - Beethoven[/b]You played this rather challenging piece tremendously well, madame. Excellent touch and dynamics. There are some places in that piece that would tie my fingers in knots.

24 AdagioM Adagio from Sonata No. 48, Hob. XVI/35 - Haydn[/b]Michele, this is a beautiful piece. You kept a nice steady pace throughout and didn't try to rush it. That is a mistake many of us make of slower pieces. We try to rush through it too quickly. Nice touch, good dynamics, overall excellent job!